Real-world notes from hikes I’ve done — what the trail felt like, what surprised me, and what I’d want to know before going.
Most of these hikes are in New Hampshire and the White Mountains, with a few adventures farther from home. I include the mileage, elevation gain, difficulty, and the things I’d want a friend to know before choosing the trail.
White Mountains
3.2 miles · ~900 ft elevation gain · Moderate
A short White Mountains hike with a big payoff.4.4 miles · ~1,800 ft elevation gain · Challenging
Open ledges, big views, and one of those hikes where the mileage doesn’t tell the whole story.5.2 miles round trip · ~1,900 ft elevation gain · Moderate
A steady forest climb to an old stone fireplace and a beautiful keyhole Presidential Range view.
3.9 miles · ~1,075 ft elevation gain · Moderate
If you want the White Mountain experience without needing to stand on top of a mountain, put Lonesome Lake on your list.
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to Mt. Monroe
~6.2 miles round trip · ~2,800 ft elevation gain · Hard
Steep, beautiful, and very New Hampshire — waterfalls, big climbing, and a dramatic payoff above tree line.
New Hampshire Waterfalls & Easier Hikes
~3 miles · 869 ft elevation gain · Moderate
A rocky, rooty climb to one of New Hampshire’s most impressive waterfalls — and proof that not every worthwhile hike needs a summit.
~1.5 miles · ~436 ft elevation gain · Easy to Moderate
A short climb with a huge payoff: the classic Franconia Notch view over Echo Lake and Cannon Mountain.
3.4 miles · 856 ft elevation gain · Moderate
A manageable, rewarding White Mountains summit that makes a great introduction to hiking in the area.
Massachusetts
Osprey Point
Whitehall State Reservoir
Doane’s Falls
Russell Bird Sanctuary
Purgatory Chasm
Mount Greylock
Washington
Mount Rainier / Wonderland Trail
Goat Rocks
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